RVBE Sleep Out Blog
Cold War Bunker Hosts First Scottish Veterans Sleep Out
Last week, we opened our doors and our grounds for something a little different.
We partnered with Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE) to host their first ever Chairman's Sleep Out in Scotland. We offered the site free of charge, and business directors gave up warmth, comfort, and a full night's sleep to spend the night outside. In cardboard boxes, in Scotland during March.
It was, by all accounts, a cold one!
The Sleep Out was led by RBVE Chairman Steve Rowbotham, who was joined by leaders from BAE Systems, Amey, Thales, Rennicks, and Class One Traffic Management, as well as colleagues from RBVE's social enterprise, Scotland's Bravest Manufacturing Company (SBMC). Together, they raised vital funds and awareness for veterans experiencing homelessness across the UK.
Here’s what he had to say about it:
Why Barnton Bunker?
There's a quiet symbolism in holding an event like this at a site built to protect people in the most extreme of circumstances. Hosting a sleep out here, in support of veterans who served their country and now find themselves without a home or employment.
For RBVE, this marked the first time their Chairman had brought the Sleep Out to Scotland. A meaningful step in raising national attention to an issue that affects veterans across the UK.
SBMC, which sits at the heart of their mission, employs a workforce where over 70% are veterans and/or people with disabilities, offering purposeful employment and welfare support to help tackle the causes of homelessness before they take hold.
As Steve put it on the night:
"We put ourselves, for one night of the year, in the shoes of people who sadly have to do it night after night after night."
More than a heritage site
As we continue the long work of restoring Barnton Bunker, moments like this one are a reminder of what we're building towards. The bunker is a remarkable piece of history, and we want it to be an active, living site, that serves the community in tangible ways.
That means opening our space to organisations who are doing meaningful work in the community. Watch our latest YouTube video for more.
We're proud to have hosted RBVE for this landmark event, and we hope it's the first of many collaborations to come.
If you'd like to support RBVE or find out more about their work, visit their website to learn how you can get involved.
Barnton Bunker is available for film, photography, community, charity and creative projects. If you're looking for a unique location that stands apart, contact us at: info@barntonbunker.com
